Frequently Asked Questions

One condition that can make a child’s feet stiff is tarsal coalition. It happens when two or more bones grow together and become connected by a bridge of extra bone. This genetic condition affects cell growth of the tarsal bones at the back of the foot. It is usually present in the womb, but because babies’ bones are so soft, the problem doesn’t often show up until they are older, when the bones harden during adolescence. The coalition of the bones can make the back of the foot stiff and painful, although some children never develop symptoms at all.

Besides stiffness and pain, your child may have a rigid, flat foot that makes it hard for them to walk on uneven ground. They also may develop a limp during more strenuous activity. The stress on the joints may lead to arthritis over time.

If your child complains of pain or limps with activity, contact Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. for an examination. Dr. Sanjay Patel specializes in pediatric foot care and will find the best solution for your child’s situation. Call (203) 876-7736 in Milford or (203) 288-4055 in Hamden, CT, to set up an appointment.

There are a number of simple remedies for treating growing pains at home. Have your son or daughter stretch before bed, since the discomfort often strikes at night. Toe touches, leg raises, and even lunges are good, appropriate stretches for your child. This may help relax the muscles that are most likely to ache after an active day. When your child does develop pain, take a little while to massage the sore areas. Heat may help as well. When their limbs ache, place a warm pad with a cloth protector on their heels before your child falls asleep. Make sure not to leave it there overnight. We may also recommend child-safe pain medication, particularly if the pain is persistent.

The good news is that growing pains don’t last forever. Just keep an eye on your child’s limbs. If anything seems abnormal, meaning that the pain interferes with normal play, lasts into the morning, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it may be a more serious problem. Let Dr. Sanjay Patel at Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. manage your child’s discomfort. Use our website or call us directly for an appointment: call (203) 876-7736 for the Milford office or (203) 288-4055 for the Hamden one.

There are many causes of itchy toes, but one of the most common is athlete’s foot. This fungal infection grows on your feet when the conditions are right, drying out and breaking down the top layers of skin. While the infection can develop anywhere on the feet, it is mostly found between your toes. This is called interdigital or toe web athlete’s foot. It causes an itching, burning sensation on your toes and may produce a slight, foul smell. As it worsens, the skin peels and may crack or become scaly. A severe case may open your foot up to a secondary bacterial infection, which causes additional deterioration in the skin and a strong odor.

Athlete’s foot on the toes, or anywhere else for that matter, will not improve on its own. You need intentional treatment to eliminate the pathogen causing the problem in order to prevent complications like fungal nails. Let Dr. Sanjay Patel at Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. help you with your itching feet. Use the website request form or call one of our offices directly to make an appointment: (203) 876-7736 for the Milford, CT office, or (203) 288-4055 for the location in Hamden.

If someone close to you is struggling with warts on their feet, be careful—you can catch warts from others. These growths are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) getting into your skin through a cut, scrape, or other breach. Touching someone else’s warts, or even objects that have had direct contact with the growth, can potentially pass the virus to you. This is why you should avoid touching these bumps with your bare skin. Don’t share footwear or nail tools, and avoid walking barefoot in warm, damp places. These areas tend to allow the virus to survive on the floor longer than in other environments.

If you’re concerned about getting warts from someone close to you, or you’re struggling to eliminate skin growths you already have, give Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. in Connecticut a call. See how we can help you lower your odds of contracting the virus, and let us help you treat existing bumps. Use our website request form or call either of our two offices to make an appointment: (203) 876-7736 for the Milford office, or (203) 288-4055 for the Hamden location.

In most cases, your child’s flat feet will not need treatment. Arches that appear flat are actually normal in young children. Babies and toddlers have thick, fatty padding that obscures the arch shape as it develops. Even older children may have flexible, painless flat feet that they eventually outgrow. However, some children don’t develop normal arches as they get older.

Only some children with low or nonexistent arches have any pain related to the condition. Many are able to walk and play sports without problems. Children only need flatfoot treatment if they complain about pain when standing, walking, or being active—or if their arches are rigid. Most methods for managing pediatric flatfoot are conservative. Shoe modifications and orthotic devices are the most common treatments. They help support the midfoot and distribute body weight evenly over the lower limbs. Sometimes stretching and other physical therapy exercises can help, too, especially if your child also has tight Achilles tendons. If you’re concerned about your child’s flat feet, let Dr. Sanjay Patel at Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. know. See how we can help. You can call our Milford office at (203) 876-7736 or our Hamden one at (203) 288-4055.

For any parent with an unhappy child wondering “will growing pains stop?”—take hope. Your son or daughter will outgrow them with time. Growing pains are a common malady that occur in active children, and they do stop as your child gets older. Each episode of pain can last from 10 minutes to several hours. They are most common in children between ages 3 and 12, though they seem to affect younger children more than older ones. The problem is usually most pronounced if the child has been active or is tired. The condition also runs in families—if you or your spouse had trouble with growing pains, most likely your child will as well.

If the discomfort persists through the night and into the morning, accompanies a limp, or seems connected to illness or an infection, it may be a more serious problem that needs prompt treatment. If you’re concerned about your child’s lower limbs, let Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. check them and help you take care of any issues. Send us an online request or call to reach us: (203) 876-7736 for the Milford location; (203) 288-4055 for the Hamden office.

Unfortunately, sometimes an ingrown toenail keeps coming back. This may be related to your footwear, how you care for your nail, or the natural shape of the hard tissue. Too-tight shoes contribute to ingrown nail formation, so if you continue to wear shoes that do not fit properly as you heal, the nail may simply curve into your toe again. You need to continue to keep your nails cleaned, trimmed, and protected, too. That way, as your nail redevelops, it grows straight instead of curling. One of the most common causes, however, is the natural shape of the nail. Sometimes people are born with nails that may grow too big for their toes, or have too much sideways curve. These nails are far more likely to grow inward repeatedly.

There are procedures to help permanently correct painful nail problems. If your ingrown nail keeps coming back, set up an appointment at Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. in Milford or Hamden, CT. Submit a request through our website to reach us. You can also call either office: (203) 876-7736 for Milford, or (203) 288-4055 for Hamden.

While you can continue to run with shin splints, doing so will not allow you to heal, so you’ll continue to have pain. Shin splints are a type of overuse injury. The best way to deal with the problem is to either stop running for a time, or dramatically reduce your training to the point where you do not experience any discomfort. Usually shin splints result from improper training or poor conditioning, though worn shoes can also contribute to the problem. You really need to address these issues and rest to allow your lower limbs to heal properly. You also need to decrease the inflammation in your shins. Icing the uncomfortable areas and stretching tightened tissues can help with this.

You’ll heal much faster if you don’t run with shin splints. If you struggle with the pain for a while, though, let us know at Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. in Milford and Hamden, CT. We can help you heal and safely return to running. Call or submit a request online to reach us: (203) 876-7736 for the Milford office, or (203) 288-4055 for the Hamden location.

You can treat ingrown toenails at home as a way of relieving the pain and preventing the problem from worsening. Soaking your feet in warm water for 15 minutes a couple times a day may help reduce inflammation. Antibiotic cream can help prevent infections caused by the nail tissue piercing the skin. You may be able to straighten a curling nail by putting dental floss or cotton under the painful edge to lift it above the skin.

Make sure you wear shoes that don’t squish or squeeze the ends of your toes. These can create or exacerbate nail damage. Our staff may recommend anti-inflammatory pain killers to help with the discomfort as well. If these home remedies do not help, get in touch with Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. in Milford and Hamden, CT. We can help you take care of the problem before it deteriorates and causes worse pain. Submit a request online or call to reach us: (203) 876-7736 for the Milford office, or (203) 288-4055 for the Hamden location.

For those who have seen or experienced toenail pain, you may be wondering, “Can I prevent ingrown toenails?” The good news is that you can in many cases. Keep your nails trimmed straight across, so the edges are intact and straight. Maintain an appropriately short length, as well—both too-long and too-short nails are susceptible to pressure from your shoes that could curve them. Make sure your shoes fit, too. Footwear that is too tight squeezes the toes and may cause nail trouble. Injuries are also a source of nail problems, so make sure your feet are properly protected for your activities with the correct footwear.

Sometimes, your natural nail shape may make you more prone to ingrown nails. If you have frequently recurring nail issues, you may need a more aggressive treatment. Let Dr. Sanjay Patel and our team here at Family Foot Care & Surgery, L.L.C. in Milford and Hamden, CT, know about your painful toe problems. You can submit a request through our website or call either office to make an appointment with us: (203) 876-7736 for the Milford office, and (203) 288-4055 for the Hamden location.